Portable bath-tub



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN P. RIDER, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. l

PORTABLE BATH-TUB.

Specification forming part of Letters .Patent No. 92,364, dcteJuly 6, 1869.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN P. RIDER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and usef'ul Improvements in Folding or Pocket Bath-Tubs; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of 'the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view of the flexible tub and its supporting-frame when in position for use. Fig. 2 is a like View, on an enlarged scale, of one of the series of hinged arms by which the pliable fabric of which the body of the tub is composed is upheld.

The object of this invention is toproduce a bath-tub which can be readily folded up into a compact form for, transportation, or unfolded, and set up in the fcrm of a tub when required for use. V

The article need not necessarily be a pocket bath-tub, though it can be readily made of such dimensions as to be easily carried in the pocket when folded up 5 but it is desirable, in any event, that it should be of such nature as to be packed with facility into a portmanteau, valise, or trunk, so as to be always at hand, and available for immediate use.

The nature of my invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.

The pliable body A of thel tub is made of canvas, coated on the inside with vulcanized rubber, so as to be water-proof 5 or the coating may be applied both internally or externally; or any other anhydrous and pliable material suitable for the purpose can be employed.

The form of the tub-body and its dimensions may, likewise, be greatly varied. It can be made of such size that when folded up it will form a small and compact bundle, which can be readily carried in the hand or pocket. For instance, it may be as large as an ordinary wash-basin, or larger or smaller, if preferred; or it may be made of such size as to fit it to receive the whole person of the bather, without increasing its dimensions to such an extent as to render it, when folded up, too bulky to be readily packed into a hand-valise or portmanteau.

In order to uphold the pliable body, I employ a folding frame, consisting, in this instance, of a series of metal arms, each of which is composed of two pieces, B C, hinged together at a. The end of the upper piece B fits in a pocket, b, formed for it in the exterior and near the upper edge of the tub. Thel right position against all pressure coming.

from that direction. At the same time, the

two pieces are capable, when turned in the opposite direction, of being folded closely together.

When the arms are applied to the tub, the hinges a are in the position, with relation to it, shown inthe drawings, so that, while the upper hinged pieces B are prevented from falling inward, and thus causing the sides of the tub to fallin, by the hinges themselves, they are prevented from falling outward by having their upper ends secured in the pockets b, and are thus upheld by the body of the tub which they support.

As many of these arms can be employed as desirable; and, as the two pieces B C are about equal in'length, either one may constitute the upper piece, which is to be slipped into one of the pockets b.

When the tub is not in use, the arms can be removed from their pockets, and folded up, and then placed on the pliable body of the tub, which, in turn, can be folded up, so as to inclose the arms or-frame, and form a compact bundle, readily transported.

By the use of supporting devices which are upheld by, at the same time they uphold the bath-tub, and which are independent of, and have no direct connection with one another, I am enabled to do away with a continuous and connected frame-work,'and can thus reduce the dimensions of the frame, and render the Awhole article more compact, light, and portable, than would otherwise be the case.

Having now described my invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A portable bath, composed of' a pliable and Water-proof body, in combination with supporting-arms, which, While upholding said body, are independent of and have no direct connection with one another, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.' i

2. The series oi' pockets upon the sides of the bath-tub or basin, to receive the ends of the ,naine to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

JNO. P. RIDER.

Witnesses:

BENJ. F. LEE, WM. H. AoKEN. 

